JUNE 12: HEROES DAY



 June 12 is more than just another holiday, says elder-statesmen, Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu
- The leaders say June 12 is a day that can never be forgotten in Nigerian history, and as such Nigerians must take time to reflect on its significance
 - Atiku and Tinubu have said that Nigerians must remember that there are those who gave their lives for the actualization of Nigerian democracy

 Former Lagos state governor and All Progressives Congress national leader, Bola Tinubu, and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, have described the June 12, 1993 elections as a part of Nigeria’s history that must live on in the consciousness of Nigerians. Tinubu, in statement on Sunday to celebrate the 24th anniversary of June 12, said that without “the uncompromising resistance to military rule engendered by the annulment of the June 12 election, there would most probably be no 4th Republic today and we would still be groaning under military dictatorship.” Tinubu described the late Abiola, the winner of the election, as an embodiment of “the eternal Yoruba adage, which says that death is better with honour than life without dignity.” In the statement titled, ‘What June 12 Taught Us,’ Tinubu said, “The blood of those who gave their yesterday and sacrificed even their lives for the democracy and freedom we enjoy today was not shed in vain. The truth is June 12 is the mother of May 29. “The annulment was a bitter pill to swallow, especially for the millions of people who expended so much time, energy and material resources to help ensure victory for Chief MKO Abiola. The late MKO selflessly committed so much of his substantial fortune towards ensuring his victory at the polls. In doing this, he was not motivated by personal, selfish or pecuniary considerations.


“Twenty-four years after its annulment, the spirit of June 12 lives on in the hearts and minds of millions of Nigerians.

“This year’s commemoration of the anniversary of June 12 coincides roughly with two years in office of the All Progressives Congress at the federal level. Some critics are already writing off the government as a failure. However, the vast majority of Nigerians are aware of the immense mess inherited by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.” Tinubu added that the APC Federal Government had successfully contained the challenges, and was turning the corner with “light discernible at the end of the tunnel.” In a statement issued by his Media Office in Abuja, on Sunday, Atiku said June 12 and the events that brought it “are part of our country’s history and cannot be forgotten, especially because of the unity and comradeship displayed by Nigerians on that Election Day in 1993.” Atiku, who described the late Abiola as a businessman, philanthropist and patriot, noted that the events of June 12, 1993 remained a watershed in the history of the nation.
It partly read, “The Waziri commended Nigerians for moving beyond the challenges thrown up by June 12 and putting in place a democratic system of government that has lasted for 18 years. “He said that it is a testimony to the innate democratic nature of Nigerians that today, democracy is flourishing in the country, adding that the restructuring of the country as being demanded by some well-meaning Nigerians would further consolidate democracy and give greater impetus to the unity and development of the country. “According to him, restructuring of the country would lay a solid foundation for prosperity and self-reliant development across the country by introducing healthy competition among the constituent parts of the federation based on the principle of comparative advantage.” The former Vice President described the late MKO Abiola as the leading personality of the June 12 struggle as a national “Hero and Patriot” deserving of accolades and honour by Nigerians.

He called on the Federal Government to pay the necessary tribute to the late chief Abiola of blessed memory by naming a befitting national institution after him. Also, in a statement by the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, on behalf of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the state government said it had perfected arrangement for the annual public symposium in Ikeja to celebrate June 12.
In a related development, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, said on Sunday that June 12 was the harbinger of peaceful, free and fair electoral process in Nigeria, adding, “It is thus worthy of celebration.” This is just as the Lagos and Ekiti state governments on Sunday joined Oyo, Ondo, Ogun and Osun states to declare June 12 a public holiday. The Osun State House of Assembly has said the current Nigeria democracy must be protected with all diligence so as not to encourage the incursion of military rule in the country again. A statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, on Sunday, to commemorate the June 12 struggle, said the change in the Nigeria political landscape was not a coincidence but a consequence of sacrifice made by courageous gladiators who led from the front to entrench democracy in Nigeria. Read more:


“Twenty-four years after its annulment, the spirit of June 12 lives on in the hearts and minds of millions of Nigerians. Read more: https://www.naij.com/1109384-june-12-tinubu-atiku-heart-melting-revelations.ht
“Twenty-four years after its annulment, the spirit of June 12 lives on in the hearts and minds of millions of Nigerians. Read more: https://www.naij.com/1109384-june-12-tinubu-atiku-heart-melting-revelations.htm

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

RAG DAY.... THE ORIGINS

University Rag societies are student-run charitable fundraising organisations that are widespread in the United Kingdom and Ireland . Most universities in the UK and Ireland, as well as some in South Africa and the Netherlands have a Rag. In some universities Rags are known as Charities Campaigns, Charity Appeals, Charity Committees, or Karnivals, but they all share many attributes. In the UK, the National Student Fundraising Association (NaSFA) , set up in December 2011, exists as a support and resource sharing organisation run by those managing rags for others managing RAGs. Origins The Oxford English Dictionary states that the origin of the word "Rag" is from "An act of ragging; esp. an extensive display of noisy disorderly conduct, carried on in defiance of authority or discipline", and provides a citation from 1864, noting that the word was known in Oxford before this date. [1] Early Rag collectors may have ragged passers-by until they made a...
Read more

OLD SKOOL DAY..... AFTER PARTY

By Asiwaju Michael A.  In slang, old school (or old skool ) can refer to anything that is from an earlier era or anything that may be considered old-fashioned . The term is commonly used to suggest a high regard for something that has been shown to have lasting value or quality.   An after party would be held today in which girls get free ticket and boys pays N500 as gate fee. For you that do not know how old skool came into the broad light, i have compiled some history for you to read. THE ORIGINS The Old Skool debuted in 1977 as the so-called "Style 36", and showcased the now iconic Vans sidestripe. A new low-top style as Vans' first skate shoe that incorporated leather panels, the company that had been founded as the Van Doren Rubber Company in Anaheim in 1966 had a new classic silhouette on its hands. What started as a random doodle by Paul Van Doren was originally referred to as the "jazz stripe", and over 35 years in the making, the sidestrip...
Read more

ND II ongoing examinations and Seminar on Money in the air (4000 Chinese coins)

While the ND II exams were ongoing, lectures have also kicked off as many departments have started receiving lectures while some are affected by the ongoing exams. Exams are going on very well and students are advised against every form of malpractice even as some were still caught in the act and the school has taken punishment measures on the culprit. Also there was a seminar held in the campus on Leadership and entrepreneurship, digital business, Chinese digital currency, etc anchored by a popular public speaker Emeka Asogwa, an aid to the Governor of Enugu State on youth affairs. The program was announced in each department that it will be held in the school lecture hall 2 but was later held in Hall B4 as a result of an ongoing exam in the proposed hall. He introduces himself as a pastor in the Youth ministry and that he loves the youth ministry very much and that he was invited by a group of elites to come and educate them on a Chinese project, but he decided to come to the co...
Read more